Nonhuman Primate Antibody Resource for Immune Cell Depletion

Project Summary: The Nonhuman Primate Reagent Resource (NHPRR) develops recombinant biological materials to supportresearch with animal models of human diseases. In our parent P40 award, we produce and distributeapproximately 400g of recombinant protein reagents per year. Therefore, we have the tools, expertise, andinfrastructure to manufacture recombinant reagents and distribute them widely. Very recently, coronavirussevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID) was declared a pandemic,which prompted the development of new animal models. Unfortunately, the potentially infectious nature ofCOVID samples has precluded the exchange of reference serum samples among centers developing monkeymodels of COVID. Thus, our plan is to create safe recombinant reference macaque immunoglobulin standardsto facilitate the development and validation of reliable assays for the detection of pathogenic coronaviruses andantiviral antibodies in NHP animal models of COVID. Specifically, this supplement will fund the generation of thefollowing reagents: recombinant coronavirus-reactive rhesus monoclonal IgGs (Aim 1) and NHP serum referencestandards (Aim 2). These macaque reference antibody reagents will improve the performance and comparabilityof antibody-based assays for NHP models by facilitating serum assay development, proficiency training, andinter-laboratory performance comparisons at the NPRCs (see letters of support).